Écrins National Park, National park in southeastern France
Écrins National Park spreads across high mountain ranges with peaks over 3000 meters and wide glacier fields in the French Alps. The terrain consists of steep slopes, narrow mountain lakes, and dense forest at lower levels that give way to boulder fields and snowfields higher up.
The protected area was established in 1973 to preserve the high mountains between the Isère and Hautes-Alpes departments. Before this, the same zones had been used for centuries for grazing livestock and passage by traders and shepherds.
The name Écrins comes from an old term for the jagged rock faces and sharp ridges found across this region, and it has changed little over the centuries. Today the word refers to a network of paths and pastures that cattle and sheep return to each spring, shaping the character of the valleys.
The trail system crosses several altitude levels and is easier to walk during the warmer months, while winter snow makes many areas inaccessible. Mountain huts along the routes offer shelter and a place to rest when daily stages turn long.
The Barre des Écrins at over 4000 meters is a destination for experienced climbers and offers a view over wide ice fields. Several glaciers around this summit show clear signs of retreat from recent decades and slowly withdraw from the valleys.
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France features a notable variety of protected natural areas, showcasing the country’s geological and ecological richness. From Lake Allos in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence to the underground rivers of Padirac in Dordogne, from the mountain ranges of Savoy to the limestone formations of the Ardèche...
France protects some of Europe's most varied natural landscapes through a network of national and regional parks. These areas range from snow-capped mountains to Mediterranean shores, each offering something distinct to visitors. You can find alpine peaks that touch the sky, glaciers that have...
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